Worlds Enough and Time

"Talk about Doctor/Companion relationships! Which are your favorite? What do you enjoy about them?" for wheatear

Hands down, my favorite Doctor-Companion relationship are between Ten and Donna, and Twelve and Bill with several flavors in between. And, in some ways I think it worked out this way especially since I’ve thought since series 9, that Ten and Twelve’s stories are in conversation with each other.

For most interesting, I think this goes to Twelve and Clara for how fascinating their entire run together was. During series 7, I thought Clara was short changed since she was stuck between the Ponds leaving and the 50th Anniversary. It was during series 8 where I think Clara’s true personality emerged.

I’ve sort of revised my thoughts on Moffat, I still think there are still somethings about his writing that bear criticisms, just like any showrunner, and one of the things is how he uses characters as plot devices.

(I don’t mean the Impossible Girl thing, its how Moffat changes fundamental things about characters: Like Clara, of all Companions, wouldn’t have blinked at Eleven changing to Twelve; or the First Doctor is a Sexist (no doubt he was because of his time but the First Doctor themselves weren’t that sledgehammer-y sexist. One or two jokes was enough but hammering that over and over was what crossed the line IMO.).

During the first run of series 8, I was put off by how much Clara and Twelve were constantly at odds but it was during my full rewatch for Twelve’s run that I appreciated what Moffat was trying to accomplish. I am not a fan of Kill the Moon but I loved the moment when Clara read Twelve the riot act. I love how it shifted things between them and Twelve actually stopped being condescending. He stopped the business of making Clara carry the emotional burden of caring for other people.

In the same measure, it gave Clara to explore what its like to be the Doctor, and how this lead to her end.

Clara played a crucial role in the Doctor’s (and not just Twelve) development.

The next fun group is Nine, Rose, and Jack because of how formative they are for me.

For most underrated it goes to Martha and the Doctors (because I feel like Martha should be a constant in the Doctor’s lives). I am waiting for the phone call from Martha!

The most family goes to the Doctor and the Ponds (Amy, Roranicus Pond, and of course, even though I don’t consider her a Companion, Melody Pond aka River Song).

Then my favorites:

Ten and Donna won my heart because of how they developed and started, and for how fantastic David Tennant and Catherine Tate’s chemistry was. They sparked and seemed to enjoy working with each other, so much so they’ve continually sought out projects so they can continue working with each other.

I absolutely loved how much fun Ten and Donna had with each other and how, after the High Drama with Rose, and then with the unfortunate encroaching of angst on Martha’s time and the subsequent High Key Dramatics of the Doctor’s Ex, the Time Lord Formerly Known As the Master— Donna was a welcome relief.

She wanted nothing more but to travel with the Doctor, because Donna’s been traveling by herself but the Bug bit her hard and she’s looking for More.

They’re clear on being friends with no romantic attachments at all (except of course, that’s not stopping people from shipping! For me, I’d rather an unrequited something from Ten to Donna). I love that Donna’s willing to share the burden of the Fires of Pompeii and always, always expecting better from the Doctor. And the Doctor being there in times of crisis, offering comfort.

It’s why it’s such a betrayal for the audience as we watch Ten take away the best parts of Donna.

Yes, she would die but she wanted to die as herself. This part is exactly the moment in discussion with Twelve’s story with Clara, and later with Bill.

And this leads directly to Twelve and Bill. For me Bill is exactly the Companion Twelve needed during that time and I’m still sad Bill, like Donna and Martha are One Season Companions. Pearl Mackie is such a charismatic actor and her chemistry with Peter Capaldi fit very well with his Doctor at that point of his life.

Bill isn’t afraid to question and go to the real heart of things: ‘Have you killed anyone before?’ It’s a necessary question and early!Twelve wouldn’t have the patience to answer. Bill came into Twelve’s life exactly at the right time, and there was such great rapport built over time. Bill wasn’t a Companion Twelve whisked away on a whim.

Twelve considered making Bill his Companion very carefully, it’s the steps Thirteen would take with her current team. Also, I love how Bill was coded, several times, as someone the Doctor thought of as their granddaughter. First during Bill’s first episode and the photo of Susan faded into Bill, and then when Bill introduced the Doctor to her friends, and last with Testimony and the general outline of Bill reminded me, and the First Doctor, I think, somehow of Susan’s silhouette.

I am forever sad that Bill’s wistful that ‘I hope we laugh at this loads’ and Twelve’s wistful, ‘Be here when I get back’ was true because I really miss them. I hope Bill returns for Thirteen’s run because I’m convinced that’s why, despite being friendlier and calling them fam, she’s holding Team TARDIS at arms length.

There’s an easiness in Donna and Bill that really, really makes me love them and their dynamic with their respective Doctors.